Storm Damage Restoration in Dallas, TX

North Texas storms don't mess around. Spring and early summer bring hail, straight-line winds and the occasional tornado warning, and any one of them can open a path for water into the house. A cracked skylight, a few lifted shingles, a branch through the roof or a window broken by hail is all it takes for rain to reach the attic, the insulation and the ceilings below.

Storm damage restoration is about two things happening fast. First, the building has to be protected from the next round of rain, which means tarping the roof or boarding up a broken window until permanent repairs can be made. Second, the water that already got in has to come out before it soaks into more drywall, insulation and flooring.

Inside, we work it like any water damage job, with one difference. Rain that comes through the roof starts out fairly clean but picks up dirt and debris from the attic on its way down, and water that came in at ground level is treated as contaminated. We extract it, pull out wet insulation and ceiling drywall that can't be dried, then dry the framing and attic decking to verified readings.

After a big hail day in DFW, roofers and contractors get booked up fast. Replacing the roof is a roofer's job, but we can protect the inside of your home while you wait for one, and we document everything so the interior work and the roof claim line up.

Storm damage overlaps with our flood damage restoration when rising water is involved, and with water mitigation and structural drying once the source is under control. For storm-damaged offices and stores, see commercial water damage restoration. Before you file, read how to file a water damage insurance claim in Texas.

After the storm: a short safety checklist

Stay away from downed power lines and anything they're touching, including fences and puddles. If a ceiling is sagging or bulging with water, keep everyone out of that room. Don't go up on the roof. Wet shingles are slick, and storm-damaged decking can give way.

Once it's safe, take photos and video of the outside and inside of the house, put buckets under active drips and move furniture and electronics away from wet areas. Write down the date and time of the storm, because your insurer will ask for it.

Storm season in Dallas-Fort Worth

Hail is a regular part of spring in Dallas-Fort Worth, and the busiest stretch usually runs from March through June. Severe thunderstorms can also bring straight-line winds strong enough to drop large trees, and tornado warnings aren't unusual in spring.

Older roofs, skylights and attic vents take the brunt of it. If your roof is getting up in years, a quick look after each major storm can catch small openings before they turn into soaked insulation and a ceiling repair.